When parents and loved ones get older, many times the care of the person falls to their children or other relatives who live in close proximity. Caring for a senior that has multiple health problems that are treated on a daily basis is something that is difficult for most people. The reason is that the caretaker is more than likely living with the senior and this can make the senior feel as if they are being pushed out of their own home. When this happens, there are going to be conflicts and it could lead to the elderly member of the family refusing to take their medication or be stubborn when it comes to going to the doctor appointments that they must make.

A tip for those that find themselves in this position is to make sure that the elderly member does not feel as if they are being treated like a child. This means that the caretaker must be involved in the process of treatment for the medical problem, so that the senior feels as if they are working with the caretaker and not just being told what to do. One of the main goals of keeping a family member at home instead of pushing them into a nursing home is to let that person have some of the independence that they have always had while still keeping them safe.

For those that are the caretakers of seniors with multiple health issues, they should be certain that they understand what medicines to give and when they should be given. This once again boils down to the person being an active partner with the doctor in getting the person treated as they should be. It may come in handy to have a detailed schedule of what medicine the patient gets and when so that there is no confusion.

The caretaker is also going to find that along with living with the person and taking care of the medications that they may have to deal with the insurance as well. For those with questions on the insurance plan that the person has, they should be certain to contact the health insurance company to find out the basics of the plan so that the care giver knows exactly what to expect. Retiree medical insurance may help to pay for in-home health care and also offset the costs of doctor’s appointments and medications.

Caring for an aging family member is difficult; however, the younger members of the family need to realize that the health of the person is in their hands now. When the older member has multiple health problems it can be stressful for family members to deal with, however, the best advice that can be given is to ask questions when they need them answered and to take one day at a time.